WORKERS who service army vehicles will walk out this morning in a row over pay and a potential sell-off.
Civil servants at state-owned Defence Support Group Bovington and Lulworth will form picket lines after being offered a one percent pay rise- despite some saying they are struggling to cope with the cost of living.
Unite union rep Rob Thompson said: “We work here on all the military tanks you see on the news in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“Some staff have even gone out to Camp Bastion supporting troops out there.
“The business has prospered- they have got £55m in the bank; and yet they offer us a one percent pay rise.
“Some of the workers are on a very low wage with families to support.
“We don’t want to strike but we don’t feel like we have a choice.
“We don’t understand how the Government can say one percent is fine when they award themselves 10 percent. It’s totally wrong.”
Union members say they are also unhappy about a proposed sell-off by the Ministry of Justice.
Three out of four of the potential buyers are foreign companies, Unite says.
“That means you will have foreign companies responsible for British military vehicles,” Mr Thomspon added.
Picket lines will be formed from 6am onwards.
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